Because the speed limit on motorways is 70mph for cars, drivers tend to forget that different speed limits apply to other vehicles.

For example, nearly every truck will have a “speed limiter” fitted, designed to physically prevent them going faster than 56mph.

While on a free flowing, off peak motorway this should present no problem, there are potential pitfalls for a driver trying to join a busy motorway where commercial vehicles are already on there.

Firstly getting up to the appropriate speed on the slip road is a skill in itself: you may find yourself being overtaken on the slip road by a faster moving car or motorbike.

Then when you are just about approaching 60mph yourself, you suddenly realise that you are heading towards a daunting line of trucks, some of which are very large, all doing 56mph in lane one.

The broken line at the top of the slip road means that you should be prepared to give way to traffic already on the motorway, but losing speed because of a truck feels very dangerous, especially when you think about the fast moving vehicles coming up behind you.

Do you try to get up to something like 56mph yourself, in order that you can find a gap between two of the HGVs, in the hope that you can make your way smoothly and safely to lane two?

Or do you quickly speed up so you can get to the head of the queue and hopefully join the motorway at that point?

The problem is further compounded by foreign truck drivers, who because of the layout of their mirrors and driving position, often cannot see other cars from their left hand drive vehicles.

These foreign HGVs have a blind spot on the right hand side, reducing their ability to see smaller cars. This in turn means that they have difficulty moving from lane one to lane two to make a successful overtake.

Recent media coverage has pointed out that drivers of long distance trucks from Europe may be particularly vulnerable to driver fatigue.

Be prepared to make allowances for larger, slower moving vehicles by shoulder checking to find a suitable safe gap as you approach on the slip road.

And if you find yourself overtaking a large foreign lorry, consider using lane three if it is safe to do so. Some truckers have a sticker remind us that “if you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you”.

That’s good advice, no matter where the truck is from.

Driving tip provided by IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists)

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